Gumming apparatus



May 15, 1934. BELCHER 1,958,779

GUMMING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l [71 van 2402" .DAN/Ez. BEL cfife 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [rm wafer \DAN/EL 54 0/752 ATTQQNEYJ' y 1934- D. BELCHER GUMMING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1952 May 15, 1934. BELCHER 1,958,779

eummme APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 fizrerzzfor fiAN/EL 3E4 CHE/Q Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUMMING APPARATUS Application February 23, 1932, Serial No. 594,527

' 4 Claims.

'.10 ming apparatus comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a suitable liquid gum and having a member mounted for rotation therein, a portion of which is submerged in the gum, and a paddle being adapted to be positioned in said receptacle upon said rotary member and a wall of the receptacle, and in such fashion that when the member is moved into and out of the receptacle, a rotary motion may be imparted to said member, whereby a film of gum is applied to a surface of the v paddle, said film of gum subsequently being applied to the flaps of a bag by placing the gummed surface of the paddle in contact therewith.

A further object is to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus adapted for hand operation to apply a film of gum to the flaps of a bag top to be sealed, whereby the operation of sealing the bag may be greatly expedited, and a more uniform closure obtained.

Other objects of the invention reside in the general construction of the apparatus; in the provision of the concaved roller mounted within the receptacle and having a portion thereof sub merged in the gum so that when said roller is rotated, a film of gum will be applied to the periphery thereof; in the construction of the paddle which is so configurated as to conform to the curvature of the periphery of the roller, so that a film of gum will be applied to an end portion of the paddle substantially the full width thereof; in the means provided for supporting the paddle within the receptacle; and in the means for uniformly distributing the gum over the surface of the paddle.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional View on the line 1-1 of Figure 2, showing the general construction of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the wall which supports one end of the paddle;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 1, showing the means for uniformly distributing the gum over the surface of the paddle;

Figure 5 is a view showing a filled bag before having its 'top closed and sealed;

Figure 6 is a view showing the walls of the bag mouth partially folded by means of the gum applying paddle;

Figure 7 is a view showing the second operation of folding the bag top walls wherein it will be noted that the gummed surface of the paddle is engaged with the inner faces of some of the flaps;

Figure 8 shows the closing of the bag top partially completed;

Figure 9 shows how the gum may be applied to the laterally extending fiapsby manipulation of the paddle when folding the flaps inwardly, one over the other;

Figure 10 shows the final operation of closing the bag top; I

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view on the line 11-11 of Figure 10, showing the rib on the paddle positioned to hold a previously folded flap in position against the bag body during the final operation of sealing the bag top; and

Figure 12 is a view showing a bag with its top closed and sealed.

The novel gumming apparatus featured in this invention is shown comprising a receptacle 2 having side walls 3 and l, end walls 5 and a bottom wall 6. The end walls 5-5 are preferably outwardly flared at their upper edges, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. V

A suitable paddle 7 is provided with a handle 8 whereby it may be conveniently manipulated. The paddle 7 is preferably curved or rounded, as best shown in Figures 3 and 4, and the concaved side thereof has a transversely disposed rib 9 which extends the full width of the paddle. The front edge 10 of the paddle may be rounded as shown in Figure 10.

In use, a film of gum 11 is applied to the convexed side face of the paddle, as indicated by the shaded portion in Figures 6, 7, 9, and 10, and the means provided for thus applying the gum to the surface of the paddle comprises a suitable roller thereof.

12 having pivots 13 adapted to be demountably received in suitable bearings 14, provided upon the end walls 5-5 of the receptacle. The periphery of the roller 12 is concaved, as best shown in Figure 2, and corresponds to the convexed surface of the paddle '7, as will be clearly understood by reference to Figures 1, 3, and 4. It will also be noted by reference to Figure 3 that the side wall 4 of the receptacle is lower than the side wall 3 thereof, and has its end portions 15 shaped to correspond to the shape of the paddle. The interme diate portion of the upper edge of the side wall 4 is cut away as shown at 16 in Figure 3.

It will thus be seen that when the paddle is positioned in the receptacle, 'as shown in Figure 1, the forward portion thereof will be supported upon the periphery of the roller 12, and the rear edge thereof will be supperted upon the curved edge portions 1515 of the side wall 4. ;By arranging the roller 12 within the receptacle 2, as shown, when the paddle is placed the receptacle by the operator, it will cause the forward portion thereof to engage the periphery of said roller and then move the paddle forwardly to the position shown in Figure 1, thereby causing the roller to be rotated by frictional engagement with the paddle, resulting in the lower rounded surface thereof being gummed by reason of its contacting with the gummed periphery of the roller.

' Means are provided for uniformly distributing the gum over the surface of the paddle and to prevent an excessive amount of gum to be applied thereto. Such means is best shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, and comprises a suitable brush 17 mounted in a suitable support 18 provided within the receptacle. The brush 1'7 is secured to the support 18 by a suitable clamp 19. The supporting means for the brush 1'7 is so constructed as to permit rotary adjustment of the brush with respect thereto, whereby the bristles thereof may be properly positioned with respect to the concaved surface of the paddle. .When the paddle is supp'or'tedwithin the receptacle, as shown in Figure 1, it will be noted that the lower surface thereof is engaged with the brush 17 so that when the paddle is removed from the receptacle, the bristles will wipe over the surface thereof and uniformly distribute the gum over the surface thereof. It will also remove any excess gum. In the operation of closing and sealing the bag mouth, the operator removes the paddle from the receptacle 2 by moving the paddle longitudinally in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Figure 1, whereby the roller 12 is rotated because of the paddle frictionally engaging the .periphery During such initial movement of the paddle, a film of gum will be applied to the lower rounded surface thereof by the action of the roller 12, and said gum will be uniformly distributed over the surface of the paddle by thebrush 17. The operator then applies the front edge 10 of the gum-laden paddle to an end wall of the bag mouth and folds said wall inwardly over the bag body, as shown in Figure 6, whereby the side walls of the bag top are simultaneously folded to the positions shown. The opposite end wall and portions of the side walls are then folded-over the gummed surface of the paddle as shown in Figure 7, after which the paddle isremoved therefrom and a slight pressure applied to the partially folded bag top walls, whereby they will be positio'ned as shown in Figure 8. One sideedge of the paddle is then placed'iiponthe partially folded "bag top, and one of the laterally extending flaps, formed'by the previous folding of the end walls, is folded inwardly over the gummed surface of the paddle, as shown in Figure 9, thereby causing a coating of gum to be applied to the under side of said flap. The paddle is then removed from the bag and said flap pressed into engagement with the previously folded bag top walls. The opposite edge of the paddle is then positioned upon the bag, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, and the remaining laterally extending flap similarly folded inwardly over the paddle to receive a supply of gum. The paddle is then re- -moved from said last mentioned flap and the latter folded over and into engagement with the previously folded side flap, whereupon the bag "will be sealed, as shown in Figure 12. During the operation of folding the last flap inwardly over the previously folded flaps, the rib 9 of the paddle will engage the folded flaps and retain them in proper position while the final operation of sealing the bag top is completed.

It will thus be seen that the side edges 'of the paddle provide guides against which the laterally extending flaps-may be foldedover the bag top so as to substantially-square the bag top, and whereby the bag top walls may be uniformly folded into 300 closing position, one over the other, thereby .p'rovidinga very neat appearing sea-led bag top, and all of the folded bag tops being substantially uniform in appearance.

I claim as my invention:

'1. In a device adapted for use in the operation of manually closing and sealing the open top of a bag whose walls are substantially flexible, said device comprising a blade Iike, body portion adapted to receive a supply of gum, and the side edges 110 of said body portion being disposed in substantially parallel relation and providing straight edges against and over which portions of the walls of an open bag top may be folded to receive coatin'gs of gum, said straight edges-facilitating the 4:15 operation of accurately folding the walls ofthe bag tops into closing relation, one over another,

to seal the bag top, said blade-like body portion being rounded, cross-sectionally, and having its forward edge curved.

2. In a device adapted for use in the operation or manually closing and sealing the open top of a bagwhose walls are substantially 'fieXible,-said device comprising a blade-like body portion adapted to receive a supply of gum, the forward edge of said body portion being rounded and adapted to engage and inwardly fold a wall of a bag top whereby an "oppositely disposed wall of the bag top maybe folded inwardly over said body portion to receive a coating'of gum to "thereby'cause said walls to become united, when said body portion is removed from between said inwardly folded walls, and pressure is applied thereto the side edges of said body portion form'- ing straight'edges against and over which other walls of the bag top may be folded to receive coatings of gum,'and means for holding the fi'r st folded wall portions in position while'cornpleting the final operation of sealing the bag top.

3. In a'device adapted-for use in the'operation of manually closing andsealin-g the open top of a bag whose walls are substantially flexible,said device comprising a blade-like body portion having a cylindrical surface adapted to receive a sii'p'plyo'f gum, andthe opposite side edges-of said 145 bodylportion forming straight edges against-and over which oppositely disposed walls of the open bag top may be folded, one at a time, =toreceive coatings o'fgum to thereby unite them to other inwardly folded flaps of the bag top, when said body portion is removed from the bag top, and means on said body portion for holding the first folded bag top walls in position against the bag body while completing the final operation of closing the bag top.

4. In a device adapted for use in the operation of manually closingandsealing the open top of a bag whose walls are substantially flexible, said device comprising a blade-like, curved body portion adapted to receive a supply of gum, and the opposite edges of said body portion forming straight 

